Automobile-axle construction



C. A. DEAN. AUTOMOBILE AXLE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED DC. 4. I9I6.

Pimm/ed May 25, 1920.

or casin yUNITED STATES `PHAHTIINT OFFICE.

CLARK A. DEAN, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 BHUBNUFF MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORA TION OF MISSOURI.

AUTQMOBILE-AXLE CONSTRUCTION.

Specincation of Letters Yatent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

mal application dled November 13, 1915, Serial No. 61,276. Patent No. 1,224,449, dated Kay 1, 1917. Divided and this application nled December 4, 1918. Serial No. 134,957.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLARK A. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automobile-Axle Construction, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention re ates to automobiles 'and more articularly to rear axle constructions therefor. This a plication is a division of m application erial No. 61,276, filed November 13, 1915, which matured into Patent No. 1,224,449, ranted May 1, 1917.

One `of the o jects of this invention is to emplo between the axle and the housingr a packing device, and to provide means or retaining said packing device against rotation.'

Further objects-will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in whichl Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the end of an axle housing or casand wheel hub, showing the packing em odying this invention;

Fig. 2 1s an end view of the packing means;

gig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame; an

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

ReferringA to the accompanyingedrawlng, 1 desi nates the endof an'axle tu or housing w lich. has secured to the end thereof a bearing 2, which in practice is ypressed on the 'axle tube and secured by means of rivets 3 so as to form an interior shoulder 4. 'Izhis bearing 2 thus forms an extension of the axle tube. The axle tube receives the axle section 5, which is supported in the end of the axle tube by means'ofl a roller bearing 6, and the end 7 of which receives, and is, connected with, the hub 8 of the wheel. The wheel has secured thereto the brake drum 9.

Between the axle V'tube and the axle 'therein is a stuing box shown' in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. This-.stuiiingvbox comprises a frame 10, preferably formed of sheet metal and having an outturned ilange 11 and an inturned flangel 12. Carried inside of the frame is a series of felt packing rings 13, while carried by the outside of the frame is a felt. packing ring 14. A metallic bearingV rin 15 is adapted to be positioned against t e outermost packing ring 13, and inside of the frame, while the frame is rovided with a series of longitudinal ri `s 16, preferably pressed therein.

The device as thus constructed, therefore, provides a unitary structure arranged to be positioned between the axle and the axle tube with the outer ring 14 bearing against shoulder 4 and the flange 11 bearing against the roller bearing cage 6. such diameter aste (pass inside of the heads of the rivets 3, an these rivet heads will .prevent the frame device which will closely seal the axle with respect to the axle tube, so as to` prevent oil from assing out of the end thereof.

It is o vious that various changes may be made in the details of construction withbox and housing for preventing rotation of the stuing box in the housing.

2. In an automobile, an axle casing, an axle therein, and a lubricantaretaihing packing device positioned between the axle and the casing, said packing device comprisin felted packing, a frame therefor adapted to maintain said packing in sealing engagement with both the axle and the casing, and coperating means on said frame and said casing for preventing rotation of said frame in said casing.

the ribs 16 engaging The frame is of from turning. There 1s thus provided a `.85 and coperating means on said stuffingy Lemme 3. ln an automobile axle casing, a lubricant-retaining packing device adapted to be positioned between the axle and the casing and comprising, a frame, a felted pack- 5 ing ring in said frame adapted to engage the axle, adapted a felted packing ring on said frame to engage the casing, and e retaining element on said frame, adapted for cooperation with the casing, for preventing" rotation of said frame in Suid casing.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature this 24th day of November, 1916.

CLARK A. DEAN, 

